Honors College Theses

Publication Date

4-8-2022

Major

Philosophy (B.A.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Daniel Larkin

Abstract

In his book Genealogy of Morals, German philologist and philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche posits an understanding of the origin and development of morality that stood in stark contrast to the common understanding of his day. Rather than presuming the existence of some metaphysical, objective reality to morality, Nietzsche outlines a natural development and evolution to the concepts of "Good," "Bad," and "Evil" throughout a nebulously defined period of history, focusing primarily on the psychological conditions surrounding the advent of morality. Following this, he wrote The Antichrist, in which he provided a far more specific historical framework within which the development of these concepts took place. In this thesis, I will examine his account of this development and compare his genealogy to the historical record of Ancient Egypt. In doing so, this project will explore some of the critical points of weakness in his arguments, specifically attending to how his usage of history potentially undermines his psychological theories, and how, likewise, his psychological theories undermine his historical arguments.

Thesis Summary

This project seeks to explore some of the critical points of weakness within Nietzsche's concept of the development of morality. Specifically, it attends to how his usage of history potentially undermines his psychological theories, and how, likewise, his psychological theories undermine his historical arguments.

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